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Nothing about conventional mascara is sustainable. From the plastic wand to the plastic tube, it’s all going to end up in the landfill. With the average mascara lasting only between three and six months, us makeup lovers, are contributing to a host of plastic waste pollution. Thankfully, the following brands are creating zero waste mascara that are plastic free and made with natural ingredients. Let’s dive in.
If you are looking for gorgeous lashes without causing harm to Mother Earth these brands are for you.
Zero Waste Mascara
River Organics
Starting off the list strong, we have River Organics. Formed in the United States by a husband and wife duo Corinne & Fabien, River Organics is one of the cleanest beauty brands I have found through all my research.
Leading with a transparency promise, all products are made with 100% vegan ingredients with actual skin benefits. Products are encased with eco-friendly paper packaging and covered in a biodegradable sugar cane label making them fully compostable and waste free.
River Organics’ Black Zero Waste Mascara is uniquely formulated with coconut oil, castor oil, and Rhassoul Clay. A chemical free alternative to regular mascara. A key benefit being the castor oil helps “condition lashes over time”.
The wand is sold separately but is recommended as it’s what makes this pair so great. Made from wood and metal, the mascara wand gives length and thickness to your lashes with so much ease.
Ingredients: Candelilla Wax, *Coconut oil, Bentonite Clay, Rhassoul Clay, *Arrowroot Powder, *Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Iron Oxides, Vitamin E.
Axiology
Axiology, a sustainable, vegan lipstick brand. Their packaging has a special story because it’s sustainability made from beach trash.
While Axiology doesn’t have their own mascara they partner with a clean beauty brand that does. That brand is Izzy Zero Waste Beauty. Izzy’s is certified CarbonNeutral® for “minimal impact on the environment”.
This zero waste mascara will give you luscious lashes as the formula is buildable and fans out lashes for big lift and length. What makes this mascara zero-waste is its completely plastic free and refillable!
This mascara features a proprietary High-Fidelity Wave Brush that has a unique dip in the middle giving all lash types serious length and volume. Axiology specifically highlights its mess-free application.
Ingredients: brn: water (aqua), iron oxide (ci 77499), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed wax, styrene/acrylates copolymer, glyceryl stearate, myrica pubescens fruit wax, stearic acid, glycerin, propanediol, copernicia cerifera wax, acrylates copolymer, vp/eicosene copolymer, rhus succedanea fruit wax, olea europaea (olive) oil unsaponifiables, aminomethyl propanediol, xanthan gum, tocopherol, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol
- Mascara / Balmie Trio Bundle (Elate x Axiology)
- Price: $55.00
Read more on Clean Makeup Brands
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Elate Cosmetics
Elate Cosmetics is another sustainable makeup option. This is a women-owned, B-corp that doesn't use "any harsh chemicals or fillers". Plus, it's vegan and cruelty-free.
This mascara comes in an eco-friendly glass tube and is complimented by a sustainably harvested bamboo lid. This mascara is water and sweat resistant making it perfect for a long day on the beach.
This formula does not irritate sensitive eyes so add additional coats as necessary. Color options include black, but also a dark brown which is a little bit more subtle.
When you find yourself with an empty mascara tube, Elate Cosmetics suggests recycling the glass vial, composting the bamboo lid and donating the mascara wands to "wildlife refuges to help with the cleanup of rescued wildlife".
Ingredients: Aqua, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Myrica Pubescens (Bayberry) Fruit Wax, Pullulan, Glyceryl Caprylate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia sinensis extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan
Trestique
Launched in 2015, Trestique offers 100% reusable and refillable products from post consumer recycled materials. Their product packaging is 85% recycled materials. On top of that, their products are shipped in recyclable shipping materials using a soy-based ink.
Trestique also offers a container return program for your empties to be refilled. This is a total game changer and a newer feature of today's beauty products.
Good Vibes Mascara + Eyelash Curler - Black Zero Waste Makeup, Vegan
Made with recycled plastic, this mascara is like all their other products, 100% refillable and zero waste. Trestique says "this is a water based vegan formula that has been clinically-tested to lengthen, boost and curl lashes".
The lash-boosting feature comes from its built-in lash curler on the tip of the brush. People love this zero waste mascara for the easiest application.
Ingredients: ingredients list : aqua (water), copernicia cerifera cera (copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax), oryza sativa cera (oryza sativa (rice) bran wax), stearic acid, butylene glycol, palmitic acid, hydrogenated olive oil stearyl esters,glyceryl stearate, polybutene, glycerin, synthetic beeswax, acacia senegal gum, vp/eicosene copolymer, aminomethyl propanediol, ozokerite, phenoxyethanol, hydrogenated vegetable oil, vp/va copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, stearyl stearate, malachite, tropolone, trifolium pratense extract (trifolium pratense (clover) extract), vigna radiata seed extract, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate. +/- (may contain): ci 77499 (iron oxides)
These are not your conventional mascaras. These brands deliberately and intentionally created products with the environment and a circular system in mind. These zero waste mascara brands far outshine today's traditional mascaras as they are low waste that can be refilled indefinitely.
These brands deserve all the praise and recognition as they change the standards in today's beauty industry. I can't wait to see which new brands tag along. Let me know in the comments: what are your favorite clean beauty products?
